M E D I A N
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BY MEDIA N

BRIEF
MEDIA N

Thinking in another language

The Brief focuses on culture. People from different cultural backgrounds have diverse perspectives on the world. Exploring various cultural examples helps deepen our understanding of the world around us. Language is the key to understanding. This article explains how learning a foreign language can enhance cultural understanding. Created by MEDIA N | IMGⓒ : National Folk Museum of Korea

Character and image

The image reminds you of words


Confucian Ideographs, National Folk Museum of Korea

信, trust

It shows characters in image such as birds, fish, flowers.

Chinese characters in art

One of the main virtues of Confucianism

The Munjado is a traditional ten-panel folding screen that features stylized Chinese characters, each accompanied by symbolic illustrations such as birds, fish, and flowers. Rooted in Confucian values, Munjado (literally “Character Pictures”) transforms abstract moral virtues into visual narratives, blending calligraphy with elements of folk art. Primarily used during the Joseon Dynasty, these screens served both decorative and didactic purposes, often displayed in scholars' studies or used as educational tools for children. The lower panels prominently display eight classical Confucian virtues expressed through Chinese characters: 孝 (filial piety), 悌 (brotherly love), 忠 (loyalty), 信 (trust), 禮 (propriety), 義 (righteousness), 廉 (integrity), and 恥 (a sense of shame). By combining moral instruction with artistic expression, Munjado embodies the harmony of visual beauty and ethical teaching in Korean cultural heritage.

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Explore the meanings behind the images and words.

Speech is a reflection of the mind. When we speak of something, it takes shape. Words and images come together—and when we speak of them, culture emerges. This is one path to understanding people and their cultures.

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Korean creativity and artistic talent

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In some cases, strokes were stylized or replaced with images.

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MEDIA N